Dubai (Union)
In a step that confirms the leadership of the Emirates Health Services Corporation in providing sustainable and integrated health services, the Foundation, through Al Qasimi Hospital for Women, Maternity and Children, one of its facilities, provided treatment for a very rare genetic disease known as sphingomyelinase deficiency, making the UAE the fifth country in the world, and the first in the world. Middle East to provide this treatment.
The provision of treatment came to meet the treatment plan for cases registered in the hospital and infected with this disease, as treatment was provided to a five-year-old girl, who was transferred to receive treatment in the genetic diseases clinic in the hospital, where she has been undergoing treatment in the hospital for more than a year, and all efforts have been combined at the level The pharmacy department of the hospital, and the Emirates Health Services Corporation, in order to provide treatment as soon as possible, so that it is available to the child.
Dr. Safia Al-Khaja, Director of Al-Qassimi Hospital for Women and Children in Sharjah, confirmed that the hospital, based on the vision of the Emirates Health Services Corporation to lead in providing health services, began providing this new treatment, which is the first and only enzyme replacement available in the world to treat sphingomyelinase deficiency after approval by the US Food and Drug Administration. On the product, noting that the extent of this disease has not been determined, as it affects one out of every 250,000 people around the world, and the causes of its occurrence cannot be determined, noting that providing treatment for patients with this rare disease is in line with the aspirations and goals of the institution that are compatible with The aspirations of the vision of “We are the Emirates 2031”, in order to achieve the goals of the UAE Centennial 2071.
vital disorder
Al-Khaja explained that the disease is a rare hereditary biochemical disorder, which involves a deficiency of an acidic enzyme needed to break down a fatty compound, which leads to short stature, a change in the patient’s features, enlargement of the internal organs and accumulation of fat in the body, especially in the liver, spleen, lung, and brain. Which leads to serious repercussions on the health of the patient.
Al-Khaja appreciated the efforts of the Emirati medical staff in the hospital, represented by Dr. Fatima Al Ali, Head of the Department of Genetic Diseases, noting that this step was proactive by the doctor treating these cases, which reflects the keenness of the staff to follow the best international practices and work to apply them in proportion to the pathological cases. She praised the cooperation of all work teams, medical and nursing staff, as well as members of the Board of Directors, which contributed to the development and improvement of the quality of medical services provided to patients with this disease.
In turn, Dr. Fatima Abdulaziz Al Ali, Consultant Genetic Diseases and Head of the Genetic Diseases Department at Al Qasimi Hospital for Women, Maternity and Children, said that the Emirates Health Services Corporation is constantly striving to provide treatment to patients without interruption, through the drug dispensing system that has been activated to meet the needs of patients. Of this kind and the medical requirements necessary to treat the condition.
With regard to the treatment provided by the hospital, Dr. Al Ali indicated that the treatment is given to children and adults with a deficiency of this enzyme, which contributes to treating the problem, explaining that the symptoms associated with this disease are an enlarged abdomen that causes pain, vomiting, feeding difficulties and negative effects on the liver and blood.
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